Can opener



e. A. P TBERGQ cm OPENER. APPLICATION FILED APR- I5. I921.

lizve'n liar.

.Patnted June 27,1922. I

"are NT, OFFICE.

GEORGE A. IPATTBERG, OF SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA.

oA v OPENER.

ments in Can Openers; and I do hereby de clare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates particularly 'to can openers.

The principal object of this invention is to I provide an improved can opener, similar for instance to devices for removing the closed ends of containers or cans. Anobject of the invention resides in providing a tool that Wlll remove the closed'end of a can com- .p'letely so as to restore substantially the full cross-sectional area of the container.

A further object consists in providing a can opener that will be simple andineXpensive to construct, superior, and positive and efiicient in its operation. Other objects and advantages will appear as this description progresses. v

In this specification and the annexed drawings, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms, and it is also to be understood that in and by the claims followingthe description, it is desired to cover the inven tion in whatsoever form it may be embodied. In the accompanying one-sheet of draw- 1ngs,

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a can opener, constructed in accordance with my invention, applied in operative position to a can.

Figure 2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a similar side elevation of the can opener applied in the opposite position to that shown in Figure 2.

In detail the construotionillustrated in the drawings includes a pair of substantially represents a side elevation of complemental handle members 1 and 2,

cross-pivoted at 3 and provided with extended end portions 4: and 5 respectively. The

handle members 1 and 2 are preferably crosspivoted after the manner of a scissor or shear to take advantage of the obvious manner by which such tools are operated. Furtherspecification of Letters Patent. at nte 3 5 27, 1922;] Application filed April 16, 1921. Seria1 No.461,888. I

more this construction lends itself tot-he adaptation ofmy inventiominthat the handle members land 2, as compared with the ends 4 and 5, may be lengthened orshortened for increasing or diminishing the lev-- erage required. It is Well known that the operationofopening-a can is 'a task much V dreaded by'the housewife, for the reason,

that the necessary strength and skill is lacking and at the same time the operation is v besought with the danger of contacting. the

tender skin of the hand sl; w ith the rough, pointed and jagged ends of the can adjacent the point Where the opening: tool has been inserted. The device constructed in accord ance with my invention severs theto-p from thecylindrical body of the container so as to eliminate any or all projecting" or rough,

sharpened edges, thereby greatly minimizing the danger and ris'kattendant theopening;

of "a can. 7

. j he end 4. of thehandle member 1 on one I side thereof is provided with a serrated proa:

jection 6 secured thereto by suitablerivets 7, welding or other equivalent fastening means. The projection 6 is preferably made of a finer grainedmetalthan that of the handles, as its function, to; be later ckas'cri-bed,

in. the operation of the inv'entionistofrictionally contact with the circumferential; edge of the container. The end 5- 0f the other" handle member 2 is providedwithan ex-;;-

tended plate 8 pi'votally. joined theretofbyaf I connecting pin 9. The pivot pin 9 is provided with a roller 14: mounted thereon substan tially of the same thicknessas the projection 6 and projecting from the underside of the plate 8 for the purpose'to be hereinafter I described in detail. The underside of said plate 8 is providedwith a cutting element or knife 10 projecting laterally therefrom in the same direction as the serrated projecprojection 12 to rigidly bind said shaft and knife to said plate 8. I

A suitable expansion spring 15 is secured around the pivot pin 3 and with an end thereof fixed to each of the handle members 1 and 2 as at 16 and 17 respectively so as to normally spread the said handle members.

The handles 1 and 2 are shown as formed from sheet metal but it would be clearly within the purview of this invention to make them round or in any other perfect manner. A

The invention operates in the following manner:

The operator grasps the handles 1 and 2 in one hand and with the fingers of the other grasps the knobular projection 12 and places the cutting element on the end of a cylindrical container near the circumferential edge thereof as at 20 and presses downwardly upon said knob 12 forcing the knife 10 through the top of the can into the interior thereof. During this operation, the roller 14 on the end 5 of the handle 2 has been placed against the end circumference of the can and the serrated projection 6 on the end 4: of the other handle 1 likewise placed in frictional contact with the circumferential edge of the can. The operator would then permit the handles to be separated through the action of the spring 15 thus spreading the plate 8 from the serrated projection in which position with the free hand, the operator would steady the upper i part of the can and again, draw the handles 1 and 2 together against the tension of the spring 15. T he action of closing the handles 1 and 2 tends to draw thev knife 10 around the circumference of the end of the can 5 severing the end from the sides of the cylindrical containerfor a distance proportionate with, the length of the stroke resulting from the drawing together of the handles 1 and 2. The handles 1 and -2 would nextbe T allowed to spread in an obvious manner and the closing operation repeated until the cutting knife has been moved around the circumference of the can to sever the top from the edges thereof and to permit its removal.

The cutting action is such that the end of the can severed from the cylindrical side walls is within the body thereof and not exwhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V e

l. A device such as described comprising a pair of opposed handle members pivoted together; a cutting element projecting laterally from the face of the end ofone of said members and a serrated projection'on the end of the other member.

2. A device such as described comprising a pair of opposed handle members pivoted together; a plate pivotally mounted on the end of one of said members and having .a cutting element projecting laterally from the face thereof and a'serrated projection on same end of the other member.

A can opener, such as described, comprising a pair of opposed handle members pivoted together; an end of one of said members having a serrated projection there on adapted to frictionally engage the circumference of a can to be opened and the end of the other member having a cutting element pivotally mounted thereon and projecting laterally from the face thereof and adapted to be inserted through the end ofv said can.

4. A can opener, such as described, comprising a' pair of opposed handle members pivoted together; an end of one of said members having a serrated projection thereonadapted to frictionally engage the circumference of a canto be opened; aplate pivotally mounted on the end of theother member and a cutting element projecting laterally from the face thereof and adapted to be inserted through the end'of said can.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 5th day of April, 1921.

i'EORGE A. PATTBERG. In presence of- IJTNCOLN 'V. JoHNsoN. 

